Scalpel



Sept 1938- s. ROTHSCHILD 2,131,358

SCALPEL Filed Feb. 11, 1936 --Lx u INVENTOR :55 in Figure 2.

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES 2,131,358 I SQALPEL I f i V tr 1 Rothschild, nrtolgiymiwv. Application February 11, 19:16, Serial-No. 63 ,362

, l 21 Claims. (01. 3041215) This i-nventtion relates to improvementsin surgeons scalpels and scalpel blades and has for its main object to provide an improved scalpel with a magazine connected thereto for holding sep- 5 arate blades of the type employed in surgical operations.

A further object is to provide a simple, eflicient and positive means for feeding such surgeons blades from the magazine to the holding means connected with the scalpel handle and secure same in such proper position without endangering the cutting edge thereof whilebeing fed and means for ejecting the used blade therefrom all by the mere manipulation of a single 5 control member.

A further object of this invention is. to provide such a scalpel of the magazine type with means for interchanging a surgeons blade in the holding means without feeding a blade from the magazine. Q

A further object of the invention is to adapt the magazine of such a scalpel knife or the like, with means for holding and feeding such surgeons blades having various shaped cutting edges so that the cutting edges will not be destroyed, distorted or dulled while being soheld or fed.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a scalpel with a feeding and holding device which will hold such surgeons blades firmly, securely and accurately while being fed to and after received in said holding means and said device also cooperating to release said blades therefrom when desired.

- These together with other objects will now be more particularly described by referring to the enlarged scale drawing, whereini Figure 1 is a half top elevational view and a half top sectional View taken on.- the line 2--2 of Figure 2 and having added thereto in section a sliding member of the handle.

Figure 2 is a side view of the magazine scalpel taken along the line [-4 of Figure 1 with the sliding member of the handle omitted.

Figure 3 is a complete top elevational view. Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective of the bladeclip. Figure6 is aperspective of the blade clip cover;

Figure '7 is an inside view of the blade receiving. jaw and that part of the holdingmeans on the sliding member of the handle.

Figure 8 is an end view of that which: is shown Figures is a end View of that which is shown in Figure 3.

The magazine scalpel, itself, is designed to be compact jso'as not tobe cumbersome and also maintain to a highdegree lightness which is the ,surgeons preference in an operating knife. It is so constructed that the feeding of blades from the magazine to the positive and accurate "holding means and the ejection of the used; blade from the holding means are both accomplished by {10 the mere manipulation of a single member.

The holder, itself, may" be said to include a handle (0' having a sliding member H connected therewith. At one end of the handle llland at the corresp0ndingend of the sliding member H {15 are provided blade holding'jaws'ffi 'and ['3 respectively. The jaw I2 is recessed the thickness "of a blade at I 4 so as to -accommodate the seating of a surgeons'blade [5, on a portion of its unsharpened. top,- its unsharpened bottom part 1 and rear end'. This jaw also has-recesses-IG' corresponding inshape and relative position to the apertures f1 in -theblade l5 when" said-bladeis so seatedin the recess M asshowni n 'the drawing. "When the jawfl3 -is brought adjacent jaw l2, vvith a blade thereon, the blade I5 is urged into the reces sl by the tie bar l8 actuated by springs F9 and said'bar having'connectedon either. 'end positioning studs 2ll, preferably square. which en'gage'in the bladeapertures ll. {30

the bar |8'-'is actuated and the blade l5 seated in the recess. IS the positioning studs 20 engage iii-the recesses IS in the jaw l2 and together with the recess I4,"the bar [8" and jaws l2 and I3 hold the blade firm-1y, securely and accurately, in-place. The bar |8"with its studs 20 thereon and springs l9 being the movable members of the jaw l-3-,'-are held in placeby shouldered pins 2| whichare fixed to the bar and made to it is merely necessary'to draw the sliding m'em- 5 her I'l back and the positioning studs '20 ride outof engagement from the recessesi- I 6 and blade apertures IT as the rear part of the recess l4 pushes the: blade forward and out of the holder. It'sho'u ld be observed that duringthis cutting edges. preferred position of saidstuds is such as .to hold the rear unsharpened portion and part of the operation. as the studs 20 ride out of engagement with the recesses I6 and apertures I'I they bear against the blade and act to keep it in the recess I4 in the jaw I2, and out of alignment with the jaw I3 until the jaws have completely cleared each other, thus preventing the possibility of jamming the instrument as the slide II is drawn back.

The jaw I3 and sliding member II are made slidably movable with respect to the jaw I2 and handle I0 and are held to each other by interlocking one into the other as, for instance, shown at 24, Figure 9. The jaws I2 and I3 are shaped so as to allow plenty of clearance to the cutting edges of the various odd shaped types of surgeons blades and yet give ample support thereto as clearly indicated at 25, Figures 2 and 7'.

At some convenient place on the handle Ill, preferably the end opposite the holding jaws, is connected a watertight magazine made so as to afford protection to a plurality of sterilized surgeons blades held therein. Because surgeons blades come in various sizes and many different shaped cutting edges to suit the individual needs as well as the particular preferences of different surgeons, I prefer to provide a blade clip as shown in Figure 5 to hold the blades instead of inserting these blades separately into the magazine, for, it is necessary with blades of this character to hold them in a particular fashion in order to aiford proper protection to their cutting edges and. also to have other means on said clip to insure cutting edge protection. I have found the particular type of clip best adapted for this Fixed on the inside of the side wall 26 are positioning studs 20 extending in height so as to be on a perfect line with the outermost surface of the topmost blade in the clip. These studs position said surgeons blades, which have odd shaped cutting edges, in such a predetermined position so as to afford perfect protection to their It might be well to note that the top unsharpened portion of the blade against the rear end wall and top wall of the clip respectively. With such an arrangement it is'evident a surgeon will not be limited to loading the magazine with any one type of blade but may include various shapes in one loading, if desired, and thus obtain quick changes of more beneficial types of cuting edges for particular stages of the operation. Extending on the outside of the front end wall 21 are flanges and H and on the outside of the rear end wall 28 are flanges 30' and 3|. The flanges 30 and 30 are bent back and then out forming the angle ofa square over which is snugly slidable and interlocking therewith a blade clip cover, Figure 6, which retains the blades in said clip when not in use.

The magazine is formed by the top wall 32, bottom wall 33,front wall 34 and rear wall 35 with the left side closed by the sliding member I I and the right side having a door 36 hinged at 31. When the door is opened as shown by dotted lines the clip'full of blades is inserted in the magazine after the clip cover has been removed.

The front end and rear end wall flanges 30 and 3|, and 30 and 3| respectively have grooves 38 and 39 .to engage projections 40' and M on walls .34 and 35 to properly align the clip as it is inserted in the magazine with the side wall 26 towards the door opening. The clip is slid all the way into the magazine until the square angle part of the flanges 30 and 30' are pushed flush against the projections 42 and 43 on the walls 34 and 35 respectively to properly align the clip longitudinally. When the door of the magazine is closed the clip is held in this position by projections 44 and 45 on the inside of the door 36 which bear against the side wall 26 of the clip. The side wall 26 has apertures 46 therein to permit the free passage of .plates 41. These plates thus engage the face of the nearest blade and under the action of the compression coil springs 48, fixed thereto and to the cover, forces the blades to the left.

When it is desired to feed a fresh blade from the magazine to the holding means, between jaws I2 and I3, the sliding member II is drawn back until it is stopped by the projection 49 connected on its upper right side by a similar projection 50 on the outer top wall 32 of the magazine. In this position the jaw I3 is in receiving position and in alignment with the blades in the magazine and the topmost blade is free to be ejected therefrom. The jaw I3 like the jaw I2 has a similar recessed portion I4 which receives the blade as it is ejected. Now it will be observed that when the jaw I3 is in this receiving position the spring urged positioning studs 20 in the jaw are in perfect line with and resting against the positioning studs 20 in the clip, thus a surgeons blade with any odd shaped cutting edge may be fed from the magazine onto such positioning studs and into such a receiving jaw I3 without moving out of alignment in any direc tion. This is most important in the feeding of surgeons blades as their edges must never be endangered. The sliding member I I is then pushed forward with the blade held inthe recess I4 and onthe positioning studs 20 and against the inside wall of the handle II] wherein the studs 20 engage in the groove 5|. .When the jaw; I3 is brought opposite the jaw I2 the blade is positioned as before described. In order to prevent running past the point of proper positioning a projection 52 on the sliding member II is provided to bear against the projection on the top outside wall of the 'magazine thereby stopping it in accurate positioning alignment. It should be noted that projection 52 or 5|] may be hinged if desired so that when in position they would act as stops and when swung out of position would permit the sliding apart of the instrument for thorough cleaning.

In order to insure the positioning studs 20 in the jaw I3 to ride freely over the pack of blades at the pointed part of the cutting edges or wherever else necessary a flange 53 is provided on the clip extending from the front wall 21 inwardly towards the blade, cut to the shape of the blade or any other suitable shape and so disposed that the spring urged studs 20 will glide freely over the pack.

As a further means tomake this scalpel foolproof I provide spring urged bearings 54 which are fixed-to the sliding member H- so that as same is slid from one position to another the bearings depress the blades in the pack and together with the positioning studs in said clip prevent the topmost blade from moving or sliding out of the clip, before the proper time, thereby preventing jamming of the instrument.

It should be observed that a blade in the holding means, between the jaws I2 and I3, may be ejected therefrom and any other shaped surgeons blade inserted therebetween and locked into polike manner a blade may beiused and after use removed from its holder for cleaning and rosterilizing, without disturbing the blades in the magazine, and then replaced.

Although there are many ways topack such surgeons blades for delivery to the consumer, because it is necessary to deliver them sterilized and ready for use I propose to insert the entire clip of blades, after being sterilized, into a sterilized bottle and seal same with a sterilized stopper.

Now as to surgeons blades it should be definitely understood that they. come in'many odd and irregularly shaped cutting edges which, by now, have 'become somewhat standardized and their uses have become quite well established. These cutting edges comehooked shaped, diagonal shaped, rounded,-, pointed, blunted and others which I do not mention to" avoid unnecessary prolixity but, all of which my instrument will accommodate and feed from the magazine to the holding means without destroying, distorting or dulling said-cutting. edges; I do not propose to make any suggestions or changes with regard to the shapes of said cutting edges but so little attention has been given the rear unsharpened portion of surgeonsblades, which I have found to be of just as great importance as the cutting edge itself, I 'feel the importance of bringing forth the followingcfeature of my blades. Inknown blades of the surgeons type the rear unsharpened' portion thereof has been manufactured with most of'its edges curved and I have found'that'curved surfaces always allow a certain amount of play even when employed in such a type of handle provided with recesses to fit such rear unsharpened portion when held in the holding means, therefore I prefer to make the rear portion of'myblade square as clearly shown in the drawing. Such a shape, I have found, provides the best method of holding such surgeons blades firmly, securely and accurately in position, when seated in a recess of corresponding shape such as I employ. In'any event-however, the top and bottom edge of said unsharpened portion which. engages in such a recess should be parallel to each other. Though I recommend this particular type of blade as best,

it should be clearly understood thatmy instruanerllt will accommodate blades with any shape ac s.

The instrument is illustrated with half of its handle sliding with relation to the other half but I do not wish to be confined to this arrangement nor the arrangement of its other parts as it is evident other arrangements of parts can be devised to obtain 'all of the results set forth, my invention residing in a scalpel that will successively and successfully feed surgeons blades from a stack to the holding means so that their cutting edges will not be destroyed, distorted or dulled while being so fed and the invention is designed to include such equivalent motions and mechanismsas will bring about such a'result.

- While I describe my invention as particularly applied to surgeons scalpels, it is to be understood that the invention may be employed in other blade'delivery devices without departing from the spirit or terms of the invention as set forth.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as anew and" useful article of manufaciture isf H 1. A scalpel comprising a handle with a blade holding means connected thereto for holding a surgeon's blade so that it'will project beyond the front end of the holdingmeans, a surgeon's blade substantially as set'forth, means in said holding means for fixing said blade firmly and securely in accurate position therein, a magazine for separate surgeons blades connected to sai-d handle, means in said magazine for holding a stack of said surgeons blades in predetermined orderly relationship so that the cutting edges of said surgeons blades will be fully protected, means in said magazine for ejecting a blade therefrom, means connected with said handle for receiving said blade as it is ejected from said magazine and for holding same firmly, securely and accurately in a predetermined fixed position so as to protect the cutting edge of said surgeon s blade, and said last named means feeding said blade from said last position endwis e I handle, means in said magazine for holding a stack of surgeons blades in predeterminedforderly relationship so that the cutting edges bf said surgeons blades will 'be' fully protected,

means in said magazine for ejecting a blade therefrom, means in said handlefor receiving said blade as it is ejected from said magazine and for holding same by a part of its ,unsharpened portion with the cutting edge extending therefrom and so held firmly, securely and'accurate ly in said position so as to protect the named means feedingsaid blade from said last position to the holding means position andsaid last means comprising a movable member for cooperating to fix said blade firmly, securely and accurately in the holding means when it is in holding means position," and means on said feeding means" for keeping the topmost blade on said stack from being ejected from said magazine until said receiving means is again brought into alignment with the blades in said magazine.

3. A scalpel comprising a handle with a blade holding means connected thereto for holding-a surgeons blade so that it will projectbeyondthe front end of the holding means, a 'surgeon s blade substantially as set forth, means in said cutting edge of said surgeons blade,"said last holding means for fixing said blade firmly and securely in accurate position therein, a magazine for separate blades connected to said handle,'

means in said magazine for holding a stack. of

fsurgeonsbla'des in predetermined orderly rela tionship so that the various shaped cutting edges of said surgeons blades will be fully, protected, means in said magazine. for ejecting ablade therefrom, means connected withsaid-handle for receiving said blade as it"isejected from said magazine and for-holding'same 'firmI-y,{se-

wise to the holding means position and-there cooperating to fix said blade firmly, securely and accurately in the holding means, and means on said feeding means for keeping the topmost blade on said stack from being ejected from said magazine until said receiving means is again brought into alignment with the blades in said magazine, and the used blade adapted to be released from said holding means as said feeding and receiving means is drawn away from the holding means position.

4, A scalpel comprising a handle with a blade holding means connected thereto for holding a surgeons blade so that it will project beyond the front end of the holding means, a surgeons blade substantially as set forth, means in said holding means for fixing said blade firmly and securely in accurate position therein, a magazine for separate surgeons blades connected to said handle, means in said magazine for holding a plurality of surgeons blades in predetermined orderly relationship so that the various shaped cutting edges of said surgeons blades will be fully protected, means in said magazine for ejecting a blade therefrom, means connected with said handle for receiving said blade as it is ejected from said magazine and for.holding same firmly, securely and accurately in predetermined fixed position so as to protect the cutting edge of said surgeons blade, said last named means feeding said blade from said last position endwise to the holding means position andthere cooperating to fix said blade firmly, securely and accurately in the holding means, said blade adapted to be released from said holding means as said feeding and receiving means is drawn away from the holding means position, and means on said feeding and receiving means for releasing the topmost blade in said magazine and permitting it to be ejected therefrom when said feeding and receiving means is moved into alignment with the blades in said magazine.

5. A scalpel comprising a handle with a blade holding means connected thereto, a surgeons blade substantially as set forth, means in said holding means for fixing said blade firmly and securely in accurateeposition therein, a magazine for separate surgeons blades connected to said handle, means in said magazine for holding a stack of separate surgeons blades in predetermined orderly relationship so that the various shaped cutting edges of said surgeons blades will be fully protected, means in said magazine for ejecting a blade therefrom, means connected with said handle for receiving said blade as it is ejected from said magazine: and for holding same firmly, securely and accurately in predetermined fixed position so as to protect the cutting edge of said surgeons blade, said last named means feeding said blade from said last position endwise to the holding means position and there cooperating to fix said blade firmly, securely and accurately in the holding means,- said blade adapted to be released from said holding means as said feeding and receiving means is drawn away from the holding means position, and means on said feeding and receiving means for releasing the topmost blade in said magazine and permitting it to be ejected therefrom when said feeding and receiving means is moved into alignment therewith, and cooperating means on said handle for preventing said feeding and receiving means from being moved out of alignment with the blades in said magazine when moved to receive a blade therefrom and out of proper holding position when feeding a blade thereto.

6. A'scalpel comprising a handle with a surgeons blade holding means connected therewith, positive positioning means in said holding means for holding said blade immovably, a magazine for separate surgeons blades, and positive means for successively feeding such types of blades from the magazine endwise to the positioning means in the holding means, and said feeding means being adapted to release said blade from the positive holding means as it is moved out of said holding means position,

'7. A scalpel comprising a multiple part handle with a blade holding means connected therewith, said blade'holding means comprising a male and female member for engaging in male and female relationship with each other, a magazine of blades connected to one of said handle members, and positive means for successively feeding blades from the magazine into the holding means and in'engagement between said male and female members, said female member being restricted to receive said male member in complementary relationship therein to predetermine the position thereof.

8. A scalpel comprising a handle with a magazine for holding a stack of surgeons blades connected in a substantially longitudinally parallel relationship therewith, a blade holding means firmly fixed in a substantiallylongitudinally parallel relationship to said handle, means in said magazine for ejecting a surgeons blade therefrom, and a slide movable on the handle and having means thereon for receiving and holding said ejected surgeons blade in a firm predeter- 'mined position so as to protect its cutting edge and for moving saidblade in said position to the holding means.

9. A scalpel comprising a handle with a blade holding means connected therewith, said blade holding means comprising a pair of jaws for holdinga blade therebetween and said jaws having blade holding and positioning means therein, said jaws being movable both towards and away from eachother whereby the holding means therein is moved in relation thereto, a magazine for separate surgeons blades, and positive means for successively feeding said surgeons blades from the magazine to the operating position in the holding means. I

10. A scalpel comprising a handle with a blade holding means connected therewith for holding a surgeons blade so that a portion of said blade will extend outside of said holding means, said blade holding means comprising a pair of jaws having blade holding and positioning means therein for retaining the blade firmly and securely in the holding means, said jaws being movable both towards and away from each other, a magazine for separate surgeons blades, positive means for successively feeding said surgeons blades from the magazine and endwise intolthe positioning means and into the holding means, and means actuated by the movement of said jaws in opposite relation to each other for releasing said surgeons blade so that it will fall from the holding means.

11. A scalpel comprising a surgeons blade holding device, a handle, a blade magazine connected thereto, a-blade clip having a recess therein for holding a plurality of surgeons blades insertable and removable in said magazine, said blades having apertures therein, said blade clip having positioning studs therein for engaging the apertures in said blades for aligning same in said clip and for holding same in alignment and guiding same when being fed therefrom, means in said magazine for aligning said blade clip therein, means for ejecting a blade at a time from said magazine, and guide means for receiving said blade in said aligned position and firmly holding same in said position and for advancing said blade in said position towards said blade holding device.

12. A scalpel comprising a surgeons blade holding device, a handle, a blade magazine connected thereto, a blade clip having a recess therein for holding a plurality of surgeons blades insertable and removable in said magazine, said blades hav-' said blade engaging means whereby the blades will drop from the holding device.

13. A knife compris'mg a handle with a blade holding device, a magazine of blades, a slide movable longitudinally on the handle for directly and positively feeding a blade at a time from the magazine beyond the front end of the holding device, said slide including cooperating means to fix said blade firmly and securely in the holding device in said last position, and said slide adapted to release said blade from said holding device as it is moved out of holding means position.

14. A knife comprising, a multiple part handle, a multiple part blade holding means connected with said handle in substantially longitudinally parallel relationship thereto and said holding means having a blade engaging member therein for holding a blade firmly and securely in projected position from the front end of the holding means, a magazine with a plurality of blades therein, means for feeding said blades one at a time from the magazine endwise into the holding means in engagement with said blade engaging member, and said holding means parts being movable toward and away from each other to open and close the holding means actuated by relative movement of the handle members so that the blade may be removed therefrom and a new blade inserted therein without feeding a blade from the magazine.

15. In a blade delivery device, a handle, a magazine of blades connected therewith, and a blade holding means into which the blades are fed one at a time, and a means for ejecting a blade at a time from the magazine, a slide having a means therein for receiving said blade as it is ejected from the magazine and holding a blade firmly and securely in a predetermined fixed position and said slide feeding said blade in said position into the holding means.

16. In a magazine knife having a blade holding means thereon and a magazine for holding a plurality of blades and means for ejecting blades therefrom, a blade feeding means adapted to receive and engage a blade at a time as it is ejected from said magazine and hold same firmly and securely, in combination with a blade having means therein for interlocking with said feeding and engaging means, said feeding and engaging means retaining its engagement with said blade after said blade is fed into the blade holding means cooperating to position and hold said blade therein, and means for causing the separation of said blade and said engaging means when the latter is moved out of holding means position.

17. A knife comprising, a substantially longitudinally extending handle with a blade holding means for holding a blade. projected beyond the front end thereof in a substantially longitudinally parallel relationship to the longitudinal plane of said handle, a magazine of blades, means for directly and positively feedinga blade at a time from the magazine into the holding means beyond the front end thereof, and means in the holding means for firmly locking said blade therein in said last projected position.

18. A knife comprising, a substantially longitudinally extending handle with a blade holding device for holding a blade projected beyond the front end thereof in a substantially longitudinally parallel relationship to the longitudinal plane of said handle, a magazine of blades, means for feeding a blade at a time from the magazine into the holding means beyond the front end thereof, and means in the holding means for positively holding said blade in saidlast projected position in a substantially longitudinally parallel relationship to the longitudinal plane of said handle, and means for releasing said blade from i said holding device.

19. A knife comprising a magazine of blades,.

engaging member, and means for releasing said blade from said engaging member and the holding means whereby it is pushed outof the holding means.

20. A knife comprising, a substantially longitudinally extending handle, a magazine in said handle, a blade holding means forming part of thelongitudinally extending handle and having means therein for positively holding a blade firmly and securely projected from the front end thereof in substantially longitudinally parallel relationship to the longitudinal plane of the handie, and means for successively feeding blades from the magazine into the holding means.

21. A knife comprising, a substantially longitudinally extending handle with a blade holding device for holding a blade projected beyond the front end thereof in a substantially longitudinally parallel relationship to the longitudinal plane of the handle to allow free cutting therewith the entire width of the blade, means for positively holding said blade in said projected position, a magazine with a plurality of blades, and a means for feeding said blades in succession from the magazine into said free cutting position in the holding device.

SOL ROTHSCHILD. 

